Rake cleaner



June 21, 1932. J VELKQVER 1,864,264

RAKE CLEANER Filed Oct. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor JZ/YH Viz/K0 we r June 21, 1932 VELKOVER 1,864,264

RAKE CLEANER Filed Oct. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenlor Ji/r VZ/bovar Patented June 21, 1932 JOHN VELKOVER, OF NORTH CHICAGO, ILLINOI S RAKE CLEANER Application filed October 26, 1931. Serial No. 571,200. r

This invention relates to an attachment for an ordinary garden rake, and it has more particular reference to a mechanical device arranged for manual manipulation and constructed to remove accumulations and debris from the rake teeth.

1am aware of the fact that the prior art to which the invention relates is reasonably well developed. At the same time, I believe that the subject matter of this application reveals a structure which constitutes a novel contribution to the art, which is destined to better fulfill the requirements of a structure of this class in a more dependable and satisfactory manner.

The explicit structural parts selected for producing the desired result will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional rake equipped with a cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof with certain portions obscured.

Figure 3 is a front end elevation.

Figure 4 is a detail section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the drawin s, the rakehead is designated generally by t e numeral 5, the teeth being represented at 6 and the connective back at T. Formed integral with the back is a yoke or frame 8 extending laterally to said teeth and suitably fastened to the ferrule 9 on the operating end of the handle 10.

A suitable clamp or mounting is provided to accommodate the operating portions of the attachment. One part of the mounting J is in the nature of a rectangular top plate 11 secured by a bolt 12 to an underlying smaller clamping plate 13. These two plates are clamped firmly against the bight portion of r the yoke.

Secured by another bolt 14 to the plate 11 is a substantially U-shaped bracket 15 which as seen in Figure 4 is provided with a horizontal pivot pin 16. Rockably mountedon the pin and located between the arms on the brackets is a bearing 17 provided with a depending lug 18, and a forwardly extending operating arm 19. The arm 19 is secured to the intermediate or centralportion of the cleaner per se.

This cleaner comprises an elongated plate 20 having longitudinally spaced circular holes 21 through which'the teeth project. The operating arm 19, together with its bearing and lug 18 form a rocker as well as a carrier for the plate 20 and by actuating the socalled rocker,1the plate 20 is moved lengthwise of the teeth to remove trash such as leaves, twigs and the like from the teeth. Thus clogging of the teeth is prevented.

The numeral 22 seenin Figure 1 designates a return spring which is anchored I to the cleaner plate and also anchored by clamping nuts 23 on the bolt 14.

I now call attention to the manual control means and actuating connection between it and the rocker. In Figure 1, the numeral 24 designates an attaching fixture on the handle which constitutes a mounting for the lever 25. The lever 25 is provided with spaced'parallel ears 26 forming a sheath and these ears are pivoted to thefixture 24 as shown. -Then there is a socket 27 pivoted at 28 between the ears and the socket telescopically receives one end of the operating rod 29. V The rod fits adjustably into the socket and is held in place by clamping means 80.

The intermediate portion of the rod is slidable through guides and brace members 31 attached at longitudinally spaced points to the handle. The offset end of the rod is pivotally connected to the aforesaid lug 18 as better shown in Figure 4.

Normally the spring serves to hold the cleaning plate in elevated ineffective position and swings the lever 25 to the open position shown in Figure 1. By grasping thev lever and handle simultaneously and squeezing the lever so to speak, this exerts a longitudinal pull on the operating rod 29 which in turn actuates the rocker through the medium of the lug 18. The rocker being operatively connected with the cleaner plate serves to actuate said plate to scrape accumulations of dbris from the teeth of the rake.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, in

combination, an ordinary garden rake com-' prising a handle, a toothed head, anda yoke connecting the head with the adjacent end portion of the handle, upper and lower.

clamping plates bolted against the'intermedi- .ate portion of the yoke in ali'nement with said handle, a U-shaped bracket attached to and depending from one of said plates, a rocker comprising a bearing pivotally mounted between the arms of the bracket, said rocker also including a depending lug and an actuating arm, an apertured cleaning plate of elongated form attached to said arm and cooperating with the rake head, the teeth of said head extending through the apertures in said plate, a coil spring anchored at one end on'the intermediate portion of the plate and anchored at its opposite end to one of the first-named clamping plates.

2. A rake head cleaner attachment com- ;prising a pair. of clamping plates, a U-shaped bracket carried by one of said plates, a pivot bolt mounted between the arms of said bracket, an actuating rocker having a bearing mounted between said arms and .supported on said bolt, said actuator including an elongated arm and a. right-angularly disposed depending lug, an apertured cleaning plate, said arm being fastened to the inter.- mediate portion thereof, acoil springat- ,tached at one end to the intermediate portion I of said cleaner plate, andat its .opposite end to one of said clamping plates.

[In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

, JOHN VELKOVER. 

